NURSERY SPECIALIST

Located on the western shore of Lake Michigan, Milwaukee is an urban hub bursting with energy. Milwaukee provides a casual sophistication – big city appeal without the big city hassles. We are accessible and affordable, and our residents are welcoming. Milwaukee has evolved through the years, bringing together its unsurpassed old world charm with a breathtaking Art Museum, top-flight arts and cultural attractions, professional sports, lakefront festivals, recreational opportunities, and great restaurants.

Under the direction of the Greenhouse and Nursery Manager and Nursery Crew Leader, the Nursery Specialist performs duties related to the production and cultivation of trees, shrubs, perennials, and annuals planted on City-owned properties or grown for external customers.  During peak greenhouse operations, the Nursery Specialist assumes responsibility for weekend greenhouse monitoring, watering, and pest management on a rotational basis and attends to greenhouse emergencies, such as malfunctioning heaters and irrigation systems and pest and disease outbreaks.

Nursery Field and Greenhouse Operations:

• Perform nursery field operations, including planting, pruning, staking, conducting plant inventory, performing overall grounds maintenance (mowing, mulching, weeding), and cultivation of growing stock. Perform harvest operations of nursery stock, including digging and preparation of field grown trees for loading and transport to forestry district yards or project sites.
• Perform greenhouse operations for annual and perennial propagation and production. Perform sanitation operations for greenhouse growing systems, facilities, and plant containers. Participate in seeding and vegetative propagation, including planting and transplanting processes. Participate in the assembly and shipping of plant material to district offices and outside agencies.
• Identify and report threatening insect, disease, and cultural conditions impacting field-grown planting stock and greenhouse crops.
• Organize and perform cultural and disease or insect suppression activities using sanitary, mechanical, biological, and chemical control strategies.
• Safely use various hand tools, such as stake pounders, pruners, loppers, saws, shovels, garden forks, cultivators, weed whips, sprayers.
• Safely operate various types of power equipment and vehicles large and small.

Inventory Duties:

• Assist with recording and monitoring field and greenhouse planting stock, tools, and supply inventories. Use nursery and greenhouse maps to locate and correctly identify stock material.
• Reference chemical usage forms and pest management guidelines to ensure that proper pesticide application rates, timing, and safety requirements are followed in accordance federal, state, and local laws and policies. Record and maintain accurate pesticide application records.

Lead Worker Responsibilities:

• Perform Lead Worker role as needed to assist with training of seasonal employees (Forestry Specialists, Urban Forestry Laborers, Municipal Equipment Operators) assigned to the Nursery during peak operations.
• Work unassisted during assigned weekend work, encompassing all greenhouse operations and care of any nursery liners (tree whips) and exterior plant stock areas adjacent to greenhouse areas.
• Complete daily progress reports addressing issues that arise related to equipment, task completion, personnel issues, or weather or other factors.

The Nursery Specialist must be able to:

• Use standard industry hand tools needed to perform the job in a safe and efficient manner.
• Exert force to move objects weighing up to 100 pounds occasionally, and lift up to 50 pounds frequently and up to 20 pounds consistently.
• Work outdoors in all types of weather conditions for extended periods of time.
• Tolerate various environmental conditions indoors and out (e.g., noise, vibration, dirt, and pollen).
• Perform physical activities in work environments that require walking, standing, crawling, crouching, stooping, kneeling, reaching, balancing, pushing, and pulling.
• Wear appropriate safety equipment, including a respirator.  
• Drive departmental apparatus.
• Work occasional holidays, weekends, and evenings.  Position restricts discretionary leave (vacation) use during peak greenhouse growing season (March-June).

1. Twenty credit hours from a technical or college level program in nursery or greenhouse operations, horticulture, forestry, or a related field from an accredited college or university; OR one year of experience in nursery, greenhouse, forestry, or related horticultural activities performing duties related to this position.
2. State of Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP) Commercial Pesticide Applicator Certification in Greenhouse and Nursery, Category 3.1, within six months of hire and throughout employment.
3. Valid driver’s license at time of appointment and throughout employment.

Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered.

• Knowledge of basic plant science and nursery crop cultural requirements.
• Knowledge of and ability to comply with safety-related policies, laws, and Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) regulations.
• Ability to read and understand job-related documents.
• Ability to identify common greenhouse crops and nursery trees.
• Ability to learn and use inventory management programs to collect and record plant and supply data.
• Ability to perform job-related calculations accurately.
• Ability to safely apply pesticides to greenhouse and field-grown nursery crops.
• Ability to safely operate equipment and vehicles used in the propagation of flowers, plants, and trees: greenhouse heaters, ventilation, and irrigation equipment; mowers; sprayers; chain saws; trimmers; tree spades; chippers; skid loaders; tractors and implements; plows; all-terrain vehicles; and various large vehicles, trucks, and trailers.
• Ability to safely use various hand tools such as stake pounders, pruners, loppers, and saws; rakes, shovels, and garden forks; cultivators and weed whips; and various carpentry and plumbing tools.
• Ability to work as a team with people whose backgrounds may differ from one’s own.
• Ability to work well independently.
• Ability to remain calm during emergency situations.
• Ability to prioritize and accomplish work to meet deadlines.
• Ability to perform repetitive tasks accurately.
• Ability to serve as a steward of City resources.
• Ability to read and follow street maps.
• Oral communication skills.
• Written communication skills, including the ability to accurately complete daily reports.
• Problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Interpersonal and customer service skills.

The current salary (Pay Range 7EN) for City of Milwaukee residents is $42,188 annually, and for non-residents is $41,153.

 

This is a Career Ladder Position

Employees in the Forestry Section will advance through the pay range in accordance with the City of Milwaukee Salary Ordinance upon certification by the Commissioner of Public Works of having attained the required job performance and demonstrated competencies.  Employees may advance up to $48,944 for residents ($47,743 for non-residents) when they attain and maintain both of the two primary certifications.

 

https://city.milwaukee.gov/ImageLibrary/User/jkamme/CompensationServices/Career-Ladders/UrbanForestry1.pdf

 

THE SELECTION PROCESS will be job-related and will consist of one or more of the following: education and experience evaluation; written, oral, or performance tests, or other assessment methods. The Department of Employee Relations and the Department of Public Works-Operations-Forestry reserve the right to call only the most qualified candidates to oral and performance examinations. Oral examinations may include written exercises. Selection process component weights will be determined by further analysis of the job.   INITIAL

FILING DATE - The examination will be held as soon as practical after February 8, 2019.  Receipt of applications may be discontinued at any time after this date without prior notice. However, recruitment may continue until the needs of the City have been met. Qualified applicants will be notified of the date, time, and place of the examination. Unless otherwise required by law, the City of Milwaukee will not provide alternative test administration. The applicant is responsible for attending all phases of the job selection process at the time and place designated by the City of Milwaukee.  

• APPLICATIONS and further information can be accessed by visiting www.jobaps.com/MIL.
• If you would like assistance completing an application, please contact the Department of Employee Relations at (414) 286-3751 or staffinginfo@milwaukee.gov.
• The Department of Employee Relations is located in City Hall, 200 E Wells St, Room 706, Milwaukee, WI 53202.

EEO 704

The City of Milwaukee values and encourages diversity and is an equal opportunity employer.